When Zilu was on an errand for the Ji family, he planned to let Zi Lamb be the governor of Feidi. When Confucius found out, he said, "You are simply a child of harm." Zilu was not happy to hear Confucius say this, and replied: There are people and communities in that place, and governing the people and sacrificing to the gods are all learning, do you have to follow you to study to be considered learning? Confucius said angrily: So I hate people who talk and quibble! (Zi Lamb was a relatively young disciple of Confucius, and Confucius believed that Zi Lamb's studies had not yet been completed and that he had not yet reached the standard of becoming a scholar; What's more, if he wants to be an official under a wicked person like Ji, Confucius is afraid that he will lose his principles. At this time, Confucius and Zilu should have been more excited, Zilu was exhausted, and said something negative about the teacher in a hurry, but it was definitely not what he thought in his heart; Confucius also changed his usual gentleness and humility, and scolded Zilu. ）

Zi Lu, Zeng Hui, Ran You, and Gong Xihua sat with Confucius. Confucius opened his mouth and said, "Don't dare to say anything just because I'm older than you." You always say that no one understands me; If someone knows about you now, what are you going to do? When Zilu heard this, he hurriedly replied: In a country with a thousand military vehicles, and sandwiched between two large countries, it is often invaded by other countries, and there is famine in the country; Let me rule, and it will only take three years to make the people there brave and good at war, and know how to behave. When Confucius heard this, he just smiled slightly.

Confucius asked again: Ran You, what will happen to you? Ran You replied: Sixty or seventy miles or fifty or sixty miles square, let me govern, and after three years, I can let the people live a full and warm life. As for the etiquette and music education in this country, it needs to wait for the gentleman to carry it out. Confucius asked again: Gong Xihua, how are you? Gong Xihua replied: I don't dare to say what I can do, but I am willing to keep learning. In the festival activities of the Jongmyo Temple, or in the alliances with other countries, I am willing to wear a ceremonial dress and a top hat and be a small salute.

Confucius finally asked: Zeng Hui, how are you? At this time, Zeng Hui's voice gradually slowed down; Then, with a clang, he stood up and replied, "I don't think what the three of them have said." Confucius said: It doesn't matter, that is, everyone just talks about their own aspirations. Zeng Hui replied: In the late spring of March, we all put on spring clothes, and I would like to go to Yishui with five or six adults, six or seven teenagers, to take a bath, blow the wind on the dance platform, and then sing all the way back.

Confucius sighed and said, "I agree with Zeng Hui's idea!" After Zilu, Ran You, and Gong Xihua all went out, Zeng Hui asked Confucius: Master, what do you think of what the three of them said? Confucius replied: That is, they should talk about their own aspirations. Zeng Hui asked: Then why does the master laugh at Zi Lu? Confucius replied: Governing the country requires courtesy, but he is not humble at all, so I laugh at him. Zeng Hui asked again: Is that what Ran You is talking about is not governing the country? Confucius replied: Where can you see sixty or seventy miles or fifty or sixty miles square, it is not a country? Zeng Hui asked again: Is Gong Xihua talking about governing the country? Confucius said: The temple sacrifice and the alliance of the princes, what is it if this is not a matter of the state? If a person like Gong Xihua can only be a small minister, then who can be a big one?

(12) "Yan Yuan Chapter"

"Yan Yuan Chapter" has a total of 24 chapters, among which the famous sentences are: "Restrain yourself, do everything according to the requirements of etiquette, this is benevolence." Once this is done, everything under heaven will be restored"; "Don't look at what is not in line with etiquette, don't listen to what is not in line with etiquette, don't say what is not in line with etiquette, and don't do what is not in line with etiquette"; "Don't impose on others what you don't want to want"; "Death and life have life, wealth is in the sky"; "All brothers in the four seas"; "A gentleman accomplishes the good deeds of others, and does not contribute to the evil deeds of others"; "A gentleman uses articles and learning to make friends, and relies on friends to help him cultivate benevolence." In this article, several of Confucius's disciples asked him for advice on how to be benevolent, and Confucius gave them a more detailed explanation. Confucius also talked about what constitutes a gentleman.

Yan Hui asked Confucius for advice on how to be benevolent, and Confucius told him: restrain yourself and do everything according to the requirements of etiquette, this is benevolence; Once this is done, everything under heaven will be restored; The practice of benevolence lies entirely with oneself, not with others. Yan Hui then asked, "Master, what is the specific entry for practicing benevolence?" Confucius replied: Don't look at what is not in line with etiquette, don't listen to what is not in line with etiquette, don't say what is not in line with etiquette, and don't do what is not in line with etiquette. After hearing this, Yan Hui said happily: Although the disciple is stupid, he must also do what the master said.

Ran Yong asked Confucius for advice on how to be benevolent, and Confucius replied: Going out to do things is like going to receive VIPs, and when calling the people, it is like holding a major sacrifice, which must be serious; Don't impose on others what you don't want to want; so that no one in the court of the princes resents him, and no one in the fiefdom of the prince resents him; After hearing this, Ran Yong replied: Although the disciple is stupid, he must also do what the master says. Sima Niu asked Confucius for advice on how to be benevolent, and Confucius told him: Benevolence is prudent in speaking; Sima Niu asked again: Speak carefully, is this called benevolence? Confucius said: It is very difficult to do, can you not be cautious when you say it?

Sima Niu asked Confucius for advice on what to be considered a gentleman, and Confucius told him: A gentleman is not sorrowful or afraid; Sima Niu still didn't understand too much, and then asked: If you don't worry, don't be afraid, can you be called a gentleman if you do this? Confucius replied: If you have a clear conscience, then what sorrow and fear will there be? Once, Sima Niu and Zixia chatted, and Sima Niu said sadly: Everyone else has brothers, but I don't; After hearing this, Zixia replied: I have heard, "Death and life have life, and wealth is in the sky." "As long as a gentleman treats what he does seriously, does not make mistakes, and is respectful and courteous to others, then everyone in the world will be his own brother; A true gentleman, why worry about not having a brother?

Zizhang asked Confucius for advice on how to be wise, and Confucius told him: Bad words that are secretly provoked like fine water moisturizers, and direct slander like the pain of the skin, will not work with you, then you can be considered wise; Bad words and direct slander that are secretly stirred up will not work with you, then you can be regarded as far-sighted. Zigong asked Confucius for advice on how to govern the country, and Confucius replied: There is enough food, sufficient armaments, and the common people trust the ruler; Zigong then asked, "If you have to remove one of them, which of the above three should you remove first?" Confucius replied: remove the armament; Zigong said: If one more item has to be removed, then which of these two items should be removed? Confucius said: Remove the grain; Since ancient times, people have always died, and if the common people do not trust the rulers, then the state will not exist.